Moj Mahdara, a Democratic Iranian-American entrepreneur, has urged her party to move beyond criticism of President Trump following his administration's strike on Iran. She argues the action is essential for global security, including supporting Ukraine and countering China's influence. Meanwhile, Democratic leaders have called for congressional oversight of the operation.
Moj Mahdara, an entrepreneur and founding member of the Iranian Diaspora Collective, expressed strong disappointment with Democratic lawmakers' reactions to the recent U.S. strike on Iran. Speaking on Sunday, she emphasized the need for unity despite partisan divides. "I think that it is imperative that the Democratic Party wake up and get past their dislike of Donald Trump … and their feelings of international conflicts going on," Mahdara said. She highlighted the strike's broader implications, including bolstering Gulf state security and reshaping ties with China, noting that 55% of Iran's oil production flows to China despite sanctions.
Mahdara stressed the necessity of dismantling the Islamic Republic to aid global efforts, such as ending the war in Ukraine. "You want to support the people of Ukraine? You want to end that war? You have to—there is no getting around dismembering this Islamic Republic. It is non-negotiable," she stated. She described the potential fall of the regime as a pivotal event, comparable to the end of the Soviet Union and the fall of the Berlin Wall, affecting not just the Middle East but also Ukraine, Venezuela, and China. "This is a transformational moment for humankind, for security, and as an American … this is in our interest to complete it," she added. Identifying as a "huge Democrat," Mahdara said, "I do not see myself in them in this moment."
Prominent Democrats voiced concerns over the strike's legality and scope. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) announced plans to push for a vote on the War Powers Resolution, introduced by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY). "The framers of the United States Constitution gave Congress the sole power to declare war as the branch of government closest to the American people," Jeffries said, acknowledging Iran as a "bad actor" that requires confrontation but insisting on congressional approval.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) echoed calls for restraint in a statement on X, stating, "Iran must never be allowed to attain a nuclear weapon but the American people do not want another endless and costly war in the Middle East when there are so many problems at home." He criticized Trump's approach as involving "fitful cycles of lashing out and risking wider conflict" and urged the Senate to enforce the War Powers Act.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, labeled the strikes a "catastrophic escalation in an illegal war of aggression," adding, "Bombing cities. Killing civilians. Opening a new theater of war. Americans do not want this. They do not want another war in pursuit of regime change. They want relief from the affordability crisis. They want peace."
Not all Democrats opposed the action; Sen. Jon Fetterman (D-PA) praised it, saying on X, "President Trump has been willing to do what’s right and necessary to produce real peace in the region. God bless the United States, our great military, and Israel."
